September 27th

Murder mystery night! Previous to this party everyone who attended scowered the White Elephant for the perfect costume to match their game character. Adam was so into this game that he practically picked out everyone's outfit as we were shopping. He did a good job with the wardrobe as we all looked great that night.


-Mt Edgecombe, view from Adams house.

We ate some awesome food while acting our rolls with the end goal of trying to decide who killed the character from the story. All through the game clues are given, letters are read and arguments are started between characters. No one knows who did this dreadful deed until the very end of the game when it is reviled. We all guess who done it then read our cards to see what really happened the night of the murder. I can't remember anymore if anyone guessed the murderer right, I didn't anyways. To be honest I was having such a great time feasting on the fresh shrimp and wine that my mind often wondered away from the game.


-Reece, the rich American.


-Adam and I were Archaeologists. He was my mentor when I was firt learning the trade.


-The whole cast of characters.

September 25th

Who are all these tacky people? Tonight is the tacky tourist party. All the tourist company's and shop owners in town gathered at the Raptor Center for this event. People dress like the best, or I mean wort dressed tourist they saw this season. We all shared our most interesting tourist questions and acted out the best stories on the stage.


-Richard and Kirstan.


-Adam.


-Reece.


-Acting out a tourist story skit. Sarah Palin even made a appearance.




-Ronda and me.


-Jenna.

Tons of food, drinks and fun happening until a fight broke loses among two natives. An argument started between a guy and a girl, her fist flew and gave the guy a bloody nose. Before I knew it everyone was yelling at each other and getting into each others business. Soon the cops arrived and that's when Ronda, Reece and I decide it was a good time to go. I don't think the Raptor Center will be hosting this party ever again. There's was to much work and preparation involved for this event to have it end in such a terrible way.

September 20th

Charlemagne's release day! Everyone gathered to return this bald eagle back to where he belonged, the wild. Charlemagne had been flown into the center on Alaska Airlines from I believe Ketchikan. He had a halibut fishing hook caught in his wing mussel which had also ripped a hole in the poor birds flesh. It was once thought that this bird would never fly again because of complications with that bad wing. Charlemagne proved us all wrong, healed and regained his ability of flight in our bald eagle flight training center. Today was his big day as visitors flocked to the center for his release. The head of Alaska Airlines was given the prod honor or releasing the bird. We are very appreciative of Alaska Air as they reimburse the Center for all of the birds flown in to Sitka.

Once Vickie removed Charlemagne's hood he was off, over the trees and disappeared into the distance. Everyone watched in amazement, gasping from the birds power and majesty. A few tears were shed from those who were deeply touched by the sight.


-Don't you just love that purple laddie. You can tell she is so touched by the event.


-Charlemagne the Eagle, Vickie the Vet and the head of Alaska Airlines.

September 19th

Today would be the last day I would bike to the end of the island. I was headed to the Teobroma Chocolate factory to pick up a few bars for Erik's birthday. The clouds were out and the temperature got chilly when the rain showers kicked in. I was lucky and avoided the showers until my ride back. When the heavy rain picked up I made a detour to Whale Park were I sat and read the book Gifts of an Eagle that I had borrowed from the Raptor Center.

After the rain had seized I headed home once again. I had to stop when viewing a house covered in seagulls. After taking a few shots a lady pulled up in a car beside me. She asked in a sassy way, “Can I help you.” I replied, “just talking pictures of the gulls.” She laughed sarcastically and replied, “I guess that's ok” and sped off down the road obviously obset. If she didn't want me taking pictures she should have just said so.

September 18th

Reece and I have been hanging out allot lately. We are the last of the Interpreters in our hall at Sheldon Jackson. It has been feeling eerie in the halls lately as many creepy events have been taking place. Reece had a girl from another hall knock on his door asking is she could use his phone to call 911 because her boyfriend had just beaten her. One night after I had showered and crawled into bed to watch part of a movie on my laptop I heard the sound of my binds clang together. The sound frightened me and I froze thinking about what just happened. I believe someone had heard my movie and peered in through the blinds to look at me. They let go to fast and the metal blinds clang shut. I have heard people run by my window plenty of times but never felt threatened by them until this point. Other than that you have the usually drunks and children running loose in the halls upstairs. I have some fond memories that took place in and around Sheldon Jackson but will not miss staying here.

Reece has plans to head home on a fight September 29th after our last day of work. I have booked tickets for a flight to Seattle the following day September 30th and there was no way I was going to be spending my last night in Sitka alone in the dorms. I would be spending my night at Ronda's enjoying good food, movies and her company.

I'm happy that I realized weeks before leaving Sitka that I felt very fulfilled with my visit. Months previous all I wanted to do was explore everything the island had to offer, seeing new things and constantly planning the next great adventure. Now since I had that feeling of fulfillment I could pause a bit and simply enjoy every last day being here, hang out with friends and reflecting on all that has happened. Not reflecting in a sad melancholy sort of way but in a joyful appreciative outlook to help preparing myself for what is to come next.

Tonight after work Ronda swung by the dorms to pick up Reece and I. We were heading to Mosquito Cove to walk Bandit and Ronda's friend's Black Lab named Zena. We saw the brown bear mom and her two cubs taking a stroll on the beach so we decided to walk the dogs in the opposite direction. I was having fun listening to Ronda and Reeces's conversations while snapping photo's along the way. At one point Zena became unruly and jumped off the board walk almost taking Reece with her. It was a great evening to be with friends.

September 14th

It had been awfully cold, cloudy and rainy for the past few weeks. I had off today and made sure to spend every last second in the warm sun that had made it's appearance. I headed over to the Coast Guard area on Japosnski Island to spend my time on the sandy beach that is found there. At the beach a lady was talking on her cell phone while her three dogs splashed in the ocean. I walked beyond the beach out onto the jagged jocks that are only assessable during low tide. There in the sparking water of the tide pools were creatures in every shape, color and form. In every nook and cranny a starfish, hermit crab or other sea life could be found. These small pools of water were literally bursting with life.

I've made up my mind and have decided to finish the Sitka Summer blog. September was such a busy month between saying goodbye to good friends, the birds and the beautiful land itself that I never found time to put closure to my Summer tale. I'm sure you can't blame me for not wanting to spend my last days in front of a computer screen typing and waiting for blogger to upload photo's.

These last days of my time in Sitka and my journey home are going to be a bit different from my entries previous to now. My earlier entries were written days after past events and were fresh in my mind. I have been in Wisconsin now for almost two months and am looking back on these last days with the aid of my never ending photo diary. Enjoy the conclusion of Sitka Summer.